Gaza militants killed in border skirmish

Several Gaza militants infiltrated southern Israel today sparking clashes with Israeli troops along the border, the army said, in an incident which reportedly left two Palestinians dead. "Two infiltrators were identified in southern Israel, near Nirim, and there was an exchange of fire," a spokeswoman said, referring to an Israeli area on the southern sector of the border not far from the Gazan city of Khan Yunis.

"At this stage, we have no injuries among our troops," she said, without commenting on the fate of the Palestinians. Separately, Israeli public radio reported that two Palestinians were killed in the same area following an exchange of fire with Israeli troops. The army could not immediately confirm the reported deaths. Witnesses on the Gaza side of the border confirmed an exchange of fire followed by some Israeli shelling, and an AFP photographer saw an Israeli helicopter firing missiles.

There were no immediate reports of casualties from the Palestinian side as ambulances were not able to enter the area. *AFP